The Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine
Since moving to Boston this past Summer, I’ve taken the liberty of trying to take as many day trips all over the state and northeast as much as possible. I kept hearing of Portland from all of my co-workers and friends, so I knew I needed to jump into the car to go find out for myself about what this town was like.
( Some of the links in this post are probably affiliate links meaning I might make a small percentage of any purchases you make. All opinions remain my own. For my disclosure policy click here. )
Are you looking to take a trip to Portland, Maine as well? If so, I’ll walk through some of the best places I visited on my girls’ weekend trip to this city.
Portland, Maine History and Fun Facts
For those of you who might be wondering where in the world Portland is or maybe you’re curious for a little bit of backstory on it, I’ll take a stab at it.
The coastal northeastern town, hometown to well-known author Stephen King, sits on a peninsula on the southeast side of Maine. The city, also known as the Forest City among many, still boasts several working fishing wharves as well as warehouses that have been converted to restaurants and shops.
The city is no stranger to fires with its extensive history, but, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, has built itself up again and again. A great spot to visit for a weekend or to take a very satisfying trip to for a foodie like myself. Not only does it offer amazing restaurants and food choices, but it also is home to around 17 microbreweries, so beer lovers will really take a liking to this city.
The Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine
Portland has no shortage of amazing restaurants and food spots to offer. While I was only in town for the weekend, I have confidence that had I been there longer, I would have been completely okay considering the kind of food I would be surrounded by.
While I wish I had been able to stay for longer than a weekend to visit more foodie dream spots, I was able to visit several gems in this city. A few of these places are spots that I wish I had been able to visit but wasn’t able to make it. Enjoy!
1. Eventide Oyster Co.
A cute little spot downtown that offers some incredibly memorable oysters. Most describe this place as having the freshest oysters they’ve ever eaten! Also offers some really great clam chowder if you’re in the mood. This place is a seafood lovers dream. Come expecting a long wait though, it’s a tiny place with a busy wait list.
Address: 86 Middle Street, Portland, Maine
Website: Eventide Oyster Co.
2. The Honey Paw
Yum. I wasn’t expecting to walk into this place when my friends and I arrived in Portland. We were all starving and most of the places nearby had some serious lines and wait time to stomach. We couldn’t wait as long as some of the times we were quoted, so we stumbled upon a place near Eventide called The Honey Paw.
A small Asian Fusion restaurant offering extensive food choices. After reading through the menu, I decided on a lobster noodle bowl. It was, using one word, incredible!
The menu included appetizers like Lobster Wontons to a list of rice bowls and sandwiches, and even dessert for any room leftover after eating. I highly recommend this restaurant!
Address: 78 Middle Street, Portland, Maine
Website: The Honey Paw
3. Duckfat
This was the spot in Portland that I received a recommendation for over and over and over again from co-workers and friends alike. The paninis offered are average, but what the restaurant is best known for is their duck poutine fries. Anybody who doesn’t know what poutine is will be in for a great surprise as this is a dish of duck fat fries served with cheese and gravy over the top.
A great dish for anybody and this place will definitely fill you up. It’s a very small, intimate restaurant where you’ll most likely wait anywhere over 30 minutes to an hour for a table (most likely longer!) so factor in that time if you’re hungry.
Address: 43 Middle St., Portland, Maine
Website: Duckfat
4. Ri Ra Irish Pub
A cute Irish pub on Commercial Street in downtown Portland. My friends and I were looking for a good spot to grab brunch before heading back home for the day, and we stumbled across Ri Ra through reviews online. And we were pleasantly surprised!
At first, upon walking in, you enter the downstairs area that looks like your standard Irish pub. However, we had reserved a spot upstairs and upon walking to the 2nd floor were blown away at the well-decorated area as well as water views that the upstairs boasted. We were sat in a corner near the huge, bay windows and it was full of natural lighting and gorgeous views!!
I was able to order the lobster benedict, which was so tasty! I can’t speak to their other food options, but the brunch was great and I’d definitely go back to try their other foods.
Address: 72 Commercial Street, Portland, Maine
Website: Ri Ra Irish Pub
Related: Acadia National Park from Boston
Best Dessert in Portland, Maine
Nothing beats a good dessert while visiting a new (or returning) city. We found a lot of great places with dessert but here are a couple that really stood out.
5. The Holy Donut
This was a gem that I heard from all of the people I asked were good spots to visit in Portland. This and Duckfat were the two places most recommended. The Holy Donut takes donuts to the next level in an unexpected way: potato donuts.
A bit of an odd concept as most of us see potatoes and donuts totally separate, but there are a long list of great flavors to try: apple cinnamon sugar, maple bacon, coffee cake, dark chocolate sea salt, and more! You’ll want to get there early, or be prepared to wait as there is usually a pretty lengthy line out the door. Anybody looking for gluten free dessert options, this is your kind of place.
Address: 177 Commercial Street, Portland, Maine
Website: The Holy Donut
6. Bam Bam Bakery
Bam Bam Bakery is yet again a Gluten-free paradise. Everything is gluten free!
You can find anything you’d find in a non gluten-free bakery including whoopie pies, cinnamon roll muffins, chocolate crumble cookies, and cinnamon coffee cake. I’ve heard good things about the whoopie pies, so I’d suggest that if you’re stuck on what you should order.
Address: 1054 Brighton Ave, Portland, Maine
Website: Bam Bam Bakery
The Best Drinks in Portland, Maine
Another important topic when visiting Portland is going to be: where are the best places to grab a drink? From beer to cocktails, Portland has it all.
Here are some of the best places I found while visiting Portland.
7. Vena’s Fizz House
This spot was recommended by a co-worker, and it turned out to be a really trendy spot that I’d say was on my top list for Portland. If you’re interested in mixology or love a really well-made cocktail, Veena’s Cocktails is your place.
The environment itself is both warm and cozy, a spot to relax and gather with friends. Veena’s prides itself on mixologists and they have an entire store dedicated to ingredients and ways to create your own delicious cocktails at home. If you’re not into alcoholic drinks or can’t have them, they offer a large selection of non-alcoholic cocktails that are rated to be just as great.
Address: 345 Fore St, Portland, Maine
Website: Vena’s Fizz House
8. Lincolns Speakeasy
My co-worker recommended Lincoln as an awesome speakeasy that I needed to check out. I know you’re sensing a pattern here– clearly that my co-workers have great suggestions about places.
Lincoln’s is a secret entrance, cash only, local favorite lounge downtown. If you’re interested in $5 drinks, you should make sure Lincoln’s is a pit stop on your trip itinerary. It’s a basement bar (hidden in a secret location you’ll have to use all of your resources to find ?). This spot can get pretty packed, so you’ll want to grab a table as early as possible. It’s also pretty loud for a “speakeasy” lounge location, so it’s probably not the spot to go have quiet and relaxed conversations.
Address: 36 Market St, Portland, Maine
Website: Lincolns Speakeasy
9. The Porthole Restaurant and Pub
This was a cute spot on the water that my friends and I stopped at for a quick drink. At the time, my friends ordered the pumpkin beer with the sugar rim while I ordered a Downeast Cider.
There is a large patio outside that offers picnic table seating and a large bar area. If you’re stopping here to grab food, the seafood is noted to be delicious and fresh! This is a great spot to grab a drink, food and sit outside and enjoy the view with friends or family. Definitely planning on revisiting here when the weather gets nice out again.
Address: 20 Custom House Wharf, Portland, Maine
Website: The Porthole Restaurant and Pub
Other Restaurants in Portland, Maine
As I went to Portland on a weekend with a few girlfriends, I, unfortunately, didn’t have enough time to explore and visit everywhere that I wished I could have. Here are some of the spots that I really wish I’d had some extra time to check out, or I’ll have to wait again for nicer weather for.
- Hunt & Alpine – heard they have great cocktails
- East Ender – another good spot to grab drinks, especially while waiting on a table at Duckfat next door. Heard good things about the lemon drop martini.
- Becky’s on Commercial St for breakfast – I love brunch, so this one’s self-explanatory.
- Peak’s Island trip – I’d love to bike around and visit all of the little shops come summer time.
- Five Fifty Five restaurant on 555 Congress St. – I’m very interested in trying out the infamous lobster eggs Benedict.
- Sillys – Gravy danger fries. Enough said.
- Fore street – more cocktails of course.
Wrapping Up: The Best Restaurants in Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine has so much to offer, especially for a fun weekend getaway. You can get anything from breweries to cocktails, fun places to explore with great ocean views, great breakfasts, and trendy restaurants worth coming back to.
As someone who is gluten-free, I really appreciate that there are so many options here for me. It makes me feel like I still have so many restaurants and places to check out even with the allergy. One important thing to make note of is that most restaurants here don’t allow you to make reservations, so plan on showing up early or plan for a wait.
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Are you planning a trip to Portland? Let me know if you check any of these spots out or if you have any suggestions of your own!
